Look closely at claims in recall election

Steve Henson is The Chieftainís managing editor. He can be reached at 544-0006, ext. 410; at shenson@chieftain.com; on Twitter @SteveHensonME.

By Steve Henson The Pueblo Chieftain

Published: August 18, 2013;Last modified: May 5, 2015 09:02PM

One of the many valuable lessons that Homer and Ruth Bisel taught us debaters at Roncalli High School decades ago was that there always are two sides to every issue.

If somebody tells you the sky is blue, there is a way, probably many ways, to argue against that point.

Let’s apply that thinking to the current recall effort against state Sen. Angela Giron, specifically to some of the claims and arguments being made by the senator, her opponents and the Republican replacement candidate, George Rivera.

Question: Sen. Giron’s TV ads have focused on her long career leading the Pueblo Boys & Girls Club, and she tells viewers that youths are on her mind while serving in the state Legislature. Is this relevant to the recall issue?

Affirmative: Absolutely. Her excellent work with youths in many ways defines her, and it is relevant to argue that working for issues that supports our state’s youths supports our state’s future.

It also is relevant in the context of her being able to obtain funding for a new academic building at Colorado State University-Pueblo; and to obtain fair college tuition rates for undocumented youths.

Negative: This recall isn’t about her work at the Boys & Girls Club. There is no doubt that she has a passion for youths. All well and good, but that also was her job.

This recall is about her failure to listen to her constituents on several important issues, including gun-control and immigration-related issues. Rather than represent her constituents, she followed the agenda presented by Democratic leadership in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Question: A campaign mailer says that Rivera would take away women’s rights, that he opposes abortion in all cases, even rape. Is this relevant to the recall issue?

Affirmative: While in theory any recall should be first about whether to retain the elected official targeted, it is reasonable to consider the alternative if the recall is successful. In other words, if Giron were to be recalled, would Rivera be better or worse?

Rivera has said he supports the sanctity of life, has put his signature on an anti-abortion proposal. It is fair to conclude that, if elected, his position would be detrimental to women’s rights.

Negative: First and foremost, the entire issue of where a candidate stands on abortion is irrelevant. The courts have controlled this issue for more than 40 years and that’s where the debate will end up in the future. Plus, no one state-elected official will have any control over what is a national issue.

The real issue here is, Rivera has promised to represent his constituents, not follow a party agenda. So if one accepts the reasoning that Giron has not been responsive to her electorate, then one might reasonably conclude that Rivera would be preferable on that basis alone.

As you see, this could go on forever. My head’s already spinning.

I remember Mrs. Bisel telling us once: “There is no black and white, no right or wrong. There are hundreds, thousands of shades of gray. Remember that when you’re on the podium, and in life.”

So true. And that is the case here.

I would imagine that we’ve just seen the beginnings of claims and counterclaims in this recall issue, which has another 31/2 weeks or so to play out.

I think Mrs. Bisel’s advice is good. Her admonition to keep an open mind and really look at all of the angles is a great one.

For our part, we are working very hard to present our coverage of this recall issue in a fair, balanced fashion.

I predict that will become much more difficult in the days ahead, but we want you to know that every story we do will be done with fairness to all candidates and all sides of the issues foremost in our planning, our writing and our published reports.